Will My U.S. Auto Insurance Policy Cover Me in Mexico?

Your U.S. car insurance policy will not cover you as a driver or your vehicle when in Mexico unless you purchase a special supplemental endorsement on your policy. Mexico requires that all drivers carry "civil liability coverage" through a Mexican insurance carrier, or through an endorsement on their U.S. car insurance. This coverage ensures that you have sufficient coverage for injuries to another person or damage to their personal property if you are involved in an accident in Mexico. Mexico does not recognize U.S. auto insurance as appropriate or sufficient coverage while you are visiting the country unless you have this supplement. As a tourist, you must buy Mexico tourist auto insurance to cover yourself and your vehicle. Speak to your insurance agent or insurance company ahead of your trip to find out if they offer a Mexico auto insurance endorsement. This endorsement would allow you to drive in Mexico during a specific date range and provide you with the insurance coverage Mexican law requires while driving in the country. However, the endorsement can be limited. You may only be covered within a certain distance from the U.S. border, and there may be a limitation on the number of days the supplemental coverage will provide. Because of these limitations, a Mexico car insurance endorsement on your U.S. policy may not meet the requirements of Mexico. To be safe, you should purchase Mexico tourist auto insurance to properly cover yourself and your vehicle while you're in the country. If you are renting a vehicle, your rental car company will offer Mexico auto insurance that you can buy to cover the rental vehicle.

What happens if I do not buy Mexico Tourist Auto Insurance?

If you are driving in Mexico and have not bought Mexican auto insurance for your vehicle, you may be subject to large fines, criminal charges, and even be put in jail if you are pulled over or get into an accident. Without a Mexico insurance policy for your car, you will be held personally liable for any injuries or damage you cause during an accident in Mexico. A Mexico car insurance policy is a vital purchase that you should make before you travel to Mexico. Not buying this coverage would be a great oversight, and could cost you significantly in the long run if you have an accident or other type of claim while driving in the country. If you are involved in an accident, you will need to furnish proof of the coverage that you have on the vehicle to Mexican authorities to prove that you are properly insured to drive in the country.

How much insurance do I need to buy on my Mexican car insurance policy?

The required amount of liability coverage varies between different Mexican states. The minimum coverages are updated each year, so it is important to check the exact requirements of the Mexican state or states you plan to visit on your trip. Some Mexican states require higher coverage than others. Right now, the minimum liability coverage may be as low as $8,000 or as high as $343,000. The minimum coverage required by the Mexican state you are visiting may be too low to respond to a serious car accident. Consider purchasing as much liability coverage as you can afford while traveling in Mexico to avoid financial devastation after a serious accident. You will also want to buy physical damage coverage (comprehensive and collision) on your vehicle through the policy if your U.S. policy will not extend those coverages outside of the U.S.

How can I buy Mexican Auto Insurance?

If you need to purchase Mexico insurance for your car before making a trip to Mexico, speak with your U.S. insurance agent first to see if you can buy supplemental insurance through your existing policy. If you can in fact buy supplemental coverage through your existing policy, make sure you understand the limitations of the supplement to ensure that you will be properly covered in the specific part of Mexico you are traveling to for the full duration of your stay. If your current insurer cannot provide coverage, you will need to purchase a separate Mexican car insurance policy. You can consult an online rating site such as A-MAX Insurance to get quotes from multiple insurance carriers to find a policy that will provide you with the coverage you need at a cost you can afford. You will be able to easily quote the right type of policy for your trip and select the coverage limits and deductibles you want.

If you are renting a vehicle while visiting Mexico, you can buy the insurance for the vehicle through the rental car company. Keep in mind, though, that the rental car company's policy will more than likely only offer the minimum required civil liability coverage required by the Mexican state you are visiting. To better protect yourself while driving in Mexico, consider a Mexico tourist insurance policy instead. With this type of policy, you can pick higher liability coverage limits to better protect your assets in the event of a serious accident while driving in Mexico.

Who do I call if I Have a Car Accident While in Mexico?

If you experience a loss involving your vehicle while you are in Mexico, you will need to first contact the Mexican authorities just like you would contact the police if you were involved in an accident in the U.S. You will then need to reach out to the insurance company that you bought your Mexican car insurance through to file a claim for the collision, theft, or other type of incident that occurred. Most insurers also have an app that you can download on your phone to file the claim or access your account and policy information such as your coverage limits and deductibles.